Circulating unit and actuator therefor



Nov. 25, 1952 A L, ARMENTROUT 2,619,179

CIRCULATING UNIT AND ACTUATOR THEREFOR Filed Oct. 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l mmmaammmmmmmmmme:

Nov. 25, 1952 A. L. ARMENTRoU-r 2,619,179

` CIRCULATING UNIT AND ACTUATOR THEREFOR Filed oct. 7, 1948 s sheets-sheet 2 H@ Z @I 3% www Nov. 25, 1952 A. L. ARMENTROUT CIRCULATING UNIT AND ACTUATOR 'IHEREFOR 3 Sheecs-Sheerl 3 Filed OCt. 7, 1948 Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATE ATENT OFFICE asians CIRCULATING UNIT AND ACTUATOR THEREFOR Arthur L. Armentrout, Long Beach, Calif.

Application October 7, 1948, Serial No. 53,337

l Claims. l

This invention is concerned with a well tool or with well equipment and provides a iiuid controlling unit or a circulating unit to be used in a well and also provides an actuator for such unit. It is a general object of the invention to provide well equipmentI of the general character referred to which is simple, practical and dependable in operation and which involves few simple parts, making it economical and commercially practical.

There are various situations incidental to well operations making it advantageous to employ a iiow control device or fluid circulating unit in the well. For purpose of example I will, in the following disclosure, set forth the structure of the present invention in connection with a well liner and hanger therefor, and will describe the circulating unit as combined with the liner and hanger and as operating in such manner as to bypass the liner when open, so that uid enters the well without having passed through the liner.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the general character referred to which is in the nature of a valve mechanism practical when combined with elements such as a well liner and hanger therefor and which serves to confine now to the liner when closed and to bypass the liner when open.

A further object of the present invention is to provide well equipment ofthe general character referred to wherein the fluid control or circulating unit of the present invention is characterized by two relatively movable parts, one of which is a body that may be rigidly coupled with a liner -or the like, while the other is a movable or shiftable element acting as a valve or valve sleeve.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the general character referred to including uid pressure actuating means by which the shiftable element can be operated when desired to move in the desired manner relative to the stationary or fixed element.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fluid control or circulating unit oi the general character referred to having combined therewith an actuator by which fluid pressure is applicable to the unit in a manner to cause the desired operation thereof.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional View of a portion of a Well showing a casing set therein and showing a liner in the well supported from a liner hanger engaged in the casing while a circulating unit embodying the present invention is interposed between the liner and hanger, an actuator for the unit being shown in operating position with relation to the unit. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view taken at the upper end portion of the liner hanger and showing the actuator for the circulating unit engaged with the hanger to be oriented relative to the unit, parts of the structure being illustrated in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional View taken as indicated by line 3 3 of Fig, 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional View taken as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detailed, transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1 taken at the circulating unit provided by the present invention, certain of the parts being shown in section to illustrate details of construction, the actuator being shown in operating position relative to the circulating unit. Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 with the actuator removed. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the lower or working end portion of the actuator provided by the present invention, showing the parts that cooperate With the hanger and with the circulating unit. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating another form of construction embodying the present invention. Fig. 10 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line iB iil on Fig. 9. Fig. l1 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line Il ll on Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line l2 |2 0n Fig. 9 and Fig. 13 is a detailed transverse sectional View taken as indicated by line Iii-I3 on Fig. 9.

Referring first to the form of the invention illustrated on sheets l and 2 of the drawings, being the form of structure shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the circulating unit A provided by the present invention is shown combined with a well liner B and a liner hanger C. The liner hanger C is shown engaged or set in a well casing D which is located in a well bore E and the circulating unit provided by the invention is shown interposed between the hanger C and liner B.

The particular liner hanger C shown in the drawings is of the form or type that is more fully described and which is claimed in my copending application entitled Liner Hanger and Actuator Therefor, Serial No. 52,037, filed on even date herewith. This particular liner hanger is characterized by gripping elements ID which engage the well casing and which are more fully described and which are claimed in my copending application entitled Gripper and Method of Making the Same, Serial No. 53,338 filed on even date herewith. This liner hanger is further characterized by a tubular body II internally threaded at I2 to cooperate with a suitable setting tool and having an upwardly facing internal stop or shoulder |3 for cooperation with the actuator F provided by the present invention and illustrated in Fig. 8 separate from the other parts of the structure. It is to be understood, of course, that the structure which is the subject of the present application is in no way concerned with or limited to use in conjunction with or as applied to the particular structures hereinabove referred to but rather it may be employed in various situations and may be modified as circumstances may require in the event that it is used other than as herein described.

The circulating unit A of the present invention is in the nature of a tubular valve structure that can be used to advantage as a connection or coupling between parts such as a hanger and liner and it is characterized by two relatively movable elements, one a body X that may be iixed to the cooperating parts such as the hanger and liner and the other a valve element Y which is shiftable relative to the body. The unit further includes means, preferably uid pressure actuated means, by which the shiftable element of the structure is operated relative to the fixed element to open or close the unit, as circumstances require. In the particular form of the invention under consideration the operating means includes fluid pressure actuated motor means Z one at each end of the valve element Y, one operable to shift the valve element in one direction and the other operable to shift the valve element in the opposite direction.

The body X of the unit is preferably a simple, straight tubular part which may be threaded to the upper end of the liner B through a threaded connection I5, or the like, and which may be joined to a liner hanger or like element as by means of a coupling I4. The coupling I4 is shown connected to the upper end of the body by a threaded connection I5.

The body X in its simple form, as shown in the drawings, has a smooth bore or opening I6 of uniform side and shape extending through it from one end to the other, and has a smooth finished, turned exterior I1.

The shiftable element or valve Y of the unit is in the form of a sleeve valve cooperating with the body X and in the particular form of the invention under consideration the sleeve element shifts around the body or is rotatable thereon between a position where ports 26 in the valve register with ports 2| in the body, as shown in Fig. 6, and a position where the said ports are out of register, as shown in Fig. 7. The invention provides one or more ports 2| in the body at the point where the valve Y is located. In the case illustrated three ports 2| are shown circumferentially space-d around the body. The valve element Y is provided with ports corresponding in number and arrangement with the ports of the body and in the case illustrated there are three ports 20 extending laterally through the valve sleeve. In practice it is desirable to provide packing between the body and valve, for instance, as shown in the drawings, packing rings 22 may be arranged between the body and valve 4 above and below the ports in the manner shown throughout the drawings. It is to be understood, of course, that as pressure conditions vary the packing means incorporated in the construction may be varied accordingly.

Where the valve element Y is to be rotated, as hereinabove described, the fluid pressure actuated means provided for operating the structure, serves to rotate the valve. In the particular form of the invention under consideration the motor units Z that operate to rotate the valve are located beyond the ends of the valve proper, there being one unit above the valve and another below the valve.

The uppermost motor unit Z involves a cylinder part 30 in the nature of a cylindrical extension projecting upwardly from the upper end of the valve element Y and engaging a projection or head 3| on the body X at a point spaced a substantial distance above the valve element Y. In the particular case illustrated the cylindrical extension 30 overlaps or slidably engages over the head 3| and is sealed relative thereto by means of a packing ring 34. The motor unit Z includes, in addition to the parts just referred to, an outwardly projecting rib or vane 35 on the body and an inwardly projecting rib 35 on the interior of the cylindrical extension 3U, the ribs or vanes 35 and 36 being such as to operate in the space or chamber 31 provided between the exterior of the body and the interior of the cylindrical extension as shown throughout the drawings. In practice suitable packing or sealing means 38 seals the vane 35 with the interior of the cylindrical extension 30 while packing or sealing means 39 seals the vane 36 and the exterior of the body X.

The structure further includes stop means 40 in connection with the parts above described serving to limit relative rotation between the body and valve. As shown in Fig. 3 the stop means may involve a stop member fixed to the exterior of the body X to engage or stop against the vane 3B xed to the interior of the cylindrical extension 30. In the case illustrated the stop 4l) is shown engaged with the vane 3'6 stopping the parts in position where the ports 2B and 2| are in register.

In practice I may vprovide means to resist operation of the valve Y relative to body X. For example. as shown in Fig. 6 a spring pressed detent may be carried by the valve to cooperate with the body so that no movement or operation occurs until the structure is deliberately operated.

The structure above described is such as to be operated by iiuid pressure and in the preferred form of the invention the fluid pressure is admitted to the space or chamber 31 between the vanes 35 and 36 through an inlet port 4I in the body X. It will be observed from a comparison of Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings that the parts of the upper motor of the operating means Z are such as to cause operation of the valve in one direction when pressure is applied through port 4|, whereas the parts of the other motor or the motor at the bottom are such as to cause the valve to operate in the opposite direction when pressure is admitted through the inlet port 4I of that motor. y

In the construction above described the ends-of the valve element Y close the ends of the annular chambers 31 where they adjoin the valve element while the heads 3| which are engaged by the cylindrical Aextensions 30 close the other or outer ends of the cylindrical chambers. It will further be apparent from the drawings that the cylindrical extensions 30 are so related to the heads 3| that the heads 3| confine the valve element with its cylindrical extensions on the body against axial movement and so that it is free to rotate thereon through the action of the motor means hereinabove described.

The actuator F provided for cooperation with the structure above described involves, generally, a tubular operating string 50 extending into the well from its upper end and a head 5| on the lower end of the operating string characterized by longitudinally spaced packers 52 between which fluid pressure is admitted from the string 50 through ports 53. The head 5I has a body portion 54 in the nature of a tubular extension of the operating string 5|) and the packers 5| are mounted on the body 54 so that they are spaced a predetermined distance apart. The ports 53 are in the body part 54 between the packers 52 so that fluid pressure supplied through the operating string acts between the packers 52 at the inlet port of either of the motor means above described. When the head 50 is in a down or lower position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings, the pressure delivered by the head 5| enters the inlet port of the lower motor whereas it; will be apparent that the head 5| may be elevated so that pressure is admitted to the inlet port of the upper motor.

In accordance with the preferred form of the present invention a stop 6I) preferably a projection or ange is provided on the operating string in such position as to engage and cooperate with the shoulder I3 provided in the liner hanger C. The stop 68 is so spaced from the head 5I that the head is in a predetermined position relative to the inlet ports of the circulating unit A when the stop 60 engages the shoulder I3. For example, as shown in the drawings, when the stop 60 engages shoulder I3 the head 5I may be in position to admit pressure to the lower motor of the actuating means. It will be apparent that with the stop BEI engageable with the shoulder I3 and with the inlet ports of the two motors axially spaced a predetermined distance apart the operator can readily position the head in operating relation to the port of the upper motor by first engaging the stop 6I) with the shoulder I3 and then lifting the operating string a suitable amount.

In the form of the invention shown on sheet 3 of the drawings the cylindrical body X' of the circulating unit carries a valve element Y shiftable relative to the body not around the body but longitudinally thereof, and the uid pressure actuated means Z serves to effect the desired reciprocation of the valve element relative to the body. In this form of the invention the body X may be substantially the same as the body hereinabove described in that it may have an annular series of ports 2| for cooperation with ports 20 of the valve member and suitable packing members or seals 22 may be provided to act between the valve member and body. The fluid pressure actuated means Z in this form of the invention involves a cylindrical extension 30' at one end only of the valve member Y. The cylindrical extension 3U is shown projecting upwardly from the valve member and is slidably engaged over a head 3| fixed on the upper end portion of the body X. The cylindrical extension 3U is spaced from the exterior of body X to define an annular chamber or cylinder opening 3l'. A radially projecting flange or vane 35' is provided on the exterior of the body and extends around the body as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 11 of the drawings. An annular internal flange or vane 36 projects inwardly from the interior of the cylindrical extension 30' and slidably engages the exterior of the body. Suitable packing may be provided where the flange or vane 35 slidably engages the cylindrical extension 30 and also suitable packing may be provided where the vane 36 engages the exterior of the body. In this form of the invention there are two inlet ports provided in the body, a lower inlet port 8U through` the wall of the body immediately above the vane 35 and an upper inlet port 8| in the wall of the body immediately below the head 3|'.

It will be apparent from Fig. 9 of the drawings how fluid pressure admitted through the lower inlet port will serve to move the vanes 35 and 35' relative to each other and since the vane 35 is on the fixed body the vane 36 moves upwardly on the body. Such upward movement of the vane 3S on the body carries the valve Y to an up position where the ports 20 and 2| register and the valve is open. When the vane 36' is in the down position as shown in Fig. 9 the ports 2D and 2| are out of register and the valve is closed. To move the structure to the closed position as shown in Fig. 9, fluid is admitted under pressure to the upper inlet port 8| causing the vane 36 to be moved downwardly on the body.

It is to be noted that the form of structure shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings may be operated by an actuator the same as that above described and which is shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The actuator is shown in Fig. 9 positioned so that it will supply liuid under pressure t0 the lower inlet port 80 while uid is free to exhaust from above the vane 36 through the upper port 8| into the space between the upper end portion of the body and the exterior of the operating string of the actuator.

The actuator as above described will cooperate with the ports 80 and 8| regardless of the rotative position of the actuator head within the body. However, where circumferentially spaced ports 20 and 2| are provided in the sleeve and body, respectively, proper rotative register must occur between the ports 20 and 2l if the device is to operate in the desired manner. It is preferred to provide guide means acting to maintain the sleeve or valve Y' against rotation relative to the body X while allowing it to move freely either up or down relative to the body. In the particular case illustrated guide stems 9| project upwardly from the flange 36 which is fixed to the sleeve projection 30 provided on the valve member Y. The guide stems 9| slidably engage guide openings 92 provided on the head 3|'.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A fluid handling device coupling parts in a well and including, a tubular body, a valve sleeve rotatable on the body, cylinder projections on the ends of the sleeve defining annular chambers around the body, vanes on the body operating in the chambers, and vanes on the projections operating in the chambers, there being longitudinally spaced ports in the 4body communicating with the chambers.

2. A fluid handling device coupling parts in a well `and including, a tubular body, a valve sleeve rotatable on the body, cylinder projections on the ends of the sleeve defining annular chambers around 'the body, vanes on the body operating in the chambers, vanes on the 'projections operating in the chambers, stop means limiting rotation of the sleeve relative to the body, there being longitudinally spaced ports in the Ibody communicating with the chambers.

3. A uid handling device coupling parts in a. well and including, a tubular body, a valve sleeve rotatable on the body, cylinder projections on the ends of the sleeve defining annular chambers around the body, vanes on the body operating in the chambers, vanes on the projections operating in the chambers, there being longitudinally spaced ports in the body communicating with the chambers, and an actuator engaged in the body cooperating with the ports to supply fluid under pressure to one or the other of the chambers.

4. In combination, a well liner, a. liner lhange'r applicable to a well casing to seal therewith, and a ilow control coupling the liner and hanger including, a tubular body, a valve member sup ported by the body and bodily rotatable relative to the body between an open and a closed position, and fluid pressure actuated means operating the said member between an open and a closed position. y y

ARTHUR L. ARMENTROUT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,033,563 Wells Mar 10, 1936 2,168,735 Gilstrap Aug. 8, 1939 2,201,433 Ford May 21, 1940 2,310,572 Burns Feb. 9, 1943 2,318,167 Knowlton May 4, 1943 2,335,387 Cantin Nov. 30, 1943 2,344,120 Baker Mar. 14, 1944 2,429,912 Baker Oct. 28, 1947 

